Is C12-16 Alcohols safe in cosmetics?
C12-16 Alcohols has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Excellent
Cosmetic Ingredient
C12-16 Alcohols
Also known as: (C12-C16) Alkyl alcohol, EINECS 272-490-6, UNII-S4827SZE3L
INCI: C12-16 ALCOHOLS
C12-16 Alcohols (CAS 68855-56-1) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Emollient; Emulsifier; Viscosity increasing agent; Skin conditioning. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 68855-56-1 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Emollient; Emulsifier; Viscosity increasing agent; Skin conditioning
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Not required — well-established safety profile with high LD50 values (>8 g/kg oral, rat)
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for C12-16 Alcohols.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Additional Ingredient Properties
2 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
emulsion_hlb
{"hlb_required_as_emulsifier": "no", "hlb_required_of_oil_phase": "15", "co_emulsifier_pairs": "ceteareth_20,polysorbate_60", "optimal_oil_phase_pct": "15-38", "optimal_water_phase_pct": "62-85", "droplet_size_range_um": "5-42", "creaming_resistance": "moderate", "coalescence_resistance": "good", "ostwald_ripening_resistance": "good", "freeze_thaw_stability": "moderate", "rheology_modifier_type": …
solubility_hlb
{"water_soluble": "no", "oil_soluble": "yes", "hlb_required": "13.0", "soluble_in": "oils, ethanol", "insoluble_in": "water, glycerin, propylene glycol", "log_p": "5.8", "melting_point_c": "26-32", "appearance": "white flakes", "source": "BASF"}
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-static agent
Emulsifier
Fragrance
Softener and conditioner
Stabilizing agent
Thickening agent
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory List Membership (1)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for C12-16 Alcohols.
Regulatory Flags
ifra_fragrance
Known Synonyms
(C12-C16) Alkyl alcohol
EINECS 272-490-6
UNII-S4827SZE3L
Chemical Function
Softener and conditioner
Anti-static agent
Viscosity modifier
Emulsifier
Stabilizing agent
Thickening agent
Regulatory Lists
IFRA Transparency
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is C12-16 Alcohols allowed in the EU?
C12-16 Alcohols EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does C12-16 Alcohols do in cosmetics?
C12-16 Alcohols functions as: Emollient; Emulsifier; Viscosity increasing agent; Skin conditioning. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 68855-56-1.
Compliance Tools
Check C12-16 Alcohols compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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